Holger Rune appoints former coach of Novak Djokovic & Jannik Sinner

Marco Panichi worked with Novak Djokovic for seven years before they parted ways in 2024.

Holger Rune has appointed Marco Panichi as his new fitness coach. The Italian coach has also worked with former and current World No. 1s Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, respectively.

Marco Panichi worked with Novak Djokovic for seven years before they decided to part ways in the spring of 2024. He later joined Jannik Sinner’s team. His time with the Italian tennis star also came to an end ahead of 2025 Wimbledon.

Panichi’s experience could play a key role in improving Rune’s performance on the tour, which hit rock bottom at SW19. The Italian coach will start working with Holger Rune at the 2025 Cincinnati Open. The update was confirmed by Holger Rune’s mother, Aneke Rune.

She told BT.dk (via Tennis World USA), “We will welcome Marco to the team. He brings enormous experience, not just in the physical aspect, but in everything related to building a Grand Slam winner. That takes the idea up another notch.”

Aneke Rune further explained, “We know Marco very well and have always had a good relationship with him. He has always liked Holger. He is in a special class, so having him in the team is a huge asset. The way he works, and the way he worked with Novak Djokovic, is very much the way we see a fitness coach in a team where he will also be active in training.”

American tennis legend Andre Agassi recently shared a three-day training stint with Rune before the kick-off of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, as the Dane eyes direction and consistency in his playing style. However, there are no indications that Agassi would join Holger Rune’s coaching staff.

Rune suffered a huge blow in the Wimbledon Championships first round after he lost to Chile’s Nicolas Jarry in a five-setter. Since winning the Barcelona Open in April, Rune has failed to record a win over a top-10 player. Nevertheless, the 22-year-old will look forward to improving his performance ahead of the 2025 US Open.

Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner has reappointed Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach nearly a year after firing him following the latter’s role in his doping case. Sinner tested positive for Clostebol in March last year, and the Italian tennis star later served a three-month ban for the substance.

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